Clifford Chance announces new Head of Global Asset Finance Group

Clifford Chance announced the appointment of partner Zarrar Sehgal as Head of the firm’s Global Asset Finance Group. Sehgal will lead the 125-strong international team of asset finance lawyers who work alongside the firm’s global corporate, tax, insolvency, litigation and regulatory practices to provide full-service advice to clients.

Assuming the role from William Glaister, Sehgal is also co-head of the Global Financial Markets group in the Americas, and head of Clifford Chance’s Global Transport & Logistics sector group. Chambers USA 2022 ranked Sehgal Band 1 in Transportation: Aviation: Finance (Nationwide), and he has also been inducted into Legal500’s Hall of Fame in the United States for Transport: Aviation and Air Travel – Finance. Considered one of the foremost experts on a wide variety of international asset finance transactions, Sehgal’s experience includes acquisition financing, leveraged leasing, secured lending, structured financing and export credit agency-supported financings.

Global Head of Financial Markets Emma Matebalavu offers, “Zarrar is renowned industry-wide for his knowledge and expertise, having worked extensively on some of the most complex asset finance transactions in the market globally. I am delighted to announce his appointment to lead the Asset Finance group which is a core element of our world-leading, award-winning international finance practice. I am confident that Zarrar will build on the stellar legacy of our brilliant global assets team by leading with absolute focus and dedication to our clients globally and I really look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Sehgal shares, “With thanks to William Glaister for his many years of contributions, I step into this role to lead an incredibly ambitious and successful group. I am excited for us to continue to leverage what makes us so unique – an unrivalled level of experience and insight, supported by access to a truly integrated global network. We remain the law firm of choice for complex asset finance transactions.”

Clifford Chance’s Global Asset Finance group advises on market-leading transactions across multiple jurisdictions, including:

• Nordic Aviation Capital on its c.US$6.3bn debt restructuring
• GE on AerCap’s acquisition of GECAS
• Goshawk Aviation, NWS and CTFE on the US$6.7 billion sale of Goshawk Aviation’s commercial aircraft leasing platform to SMBC AC
• CK Asset Holdings on the US$4bn sale of AMCK Aviation to Carlyle Aviation Partners
• Avolon on the world’s largest eVTOL aircraft order
• The arrangers in connection with Air Lease Corporation’s inaugural North American sukuk offering.